Celebrating National Care Leavers’ Week

National Care Leavers’ Week

Mon, 26 Oct 2015 14:33:00 GMT

“...the work in support of National Care Leavers’ Week will ensure those leaving care are able to get the advice and information they need, when they need it...”

Jenny Molloy's 'Neglected' FOR young care leavers, life has already presented many challenges and making the transition from the care system to independence can be difficult.  In order to highlight these issues, the University, as part of National Care Leavers’ Week, held a range of activities organised in conjunction with the councils of Kirklees and Calderdale.

The first was a sold-out book launch from author Jenny Molloy (pictured below right).  The novel, called Neglected, follows on from her previous bestsellers Hackney Child and Tainted Love and gives harrowing, and at the same time often inspiring accounts, of the impact of neglect and abuse on children and teenagers – and the role that social workers have in helping to bring back an understanding and acceptance of what love really means.

Following the launch, Jenny, who was herself brought up in care, gave a selection of readings from the book and took part in a lively question and answer session with the audience, which included practitioners, members of the public, care leavers and those still in care.

Where’s Your Mama Gone? directed by Brian Daniels The following evening a play called Where’s Your Mama Gone?, directed by Brian Daniels (pictured left), was performed at the Dean Clough Theatre in Halifax.  A fictional story based on real events, the play tells the story of six-year old twins Stephen and Carol Conner, whose mother was killed by a serial killer and because their dad was in prison, they were taken into care.  At the age of sixteen, they leave the care home and fend for themselves, facing a lifelong battle of identity, repressed anger and lost love.  The theatre saw a full house with an audience of over 250 people watching the performance.

The third event coincided with the University’s Open Day on Saturday 24 October.  On the University’s campus there was a dedicated space where care leavers and looked after children could drop-in and access information from various members of staff within the Wellbeing Services and the Schools and Colleges Liaison Service.

Closing the week was a free, open to all Harry Potter movie night featuring the Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, held in the Students’ Union. 

The University’s Amanda Kenningley helped organise the activities alongside her Schools and Colleges Liaison Service colleague Ruth Lomas and Head of Social Work Ruth Neville.

“Created by the Care Leavers’ Foundation, National Care Leavers’ Week is about highlighting the needs of care leavers, and encourages the agencies responsible for looking after them, to work in a co-ordinated and effective way,” said Amanda.  “The work in support of National Care Leavers’ Week, by institutions across the country, will ensure those leaving care are able to get the advice and information they need, when they need it.

“We have been overwhelmed with the success of the events and, in collaboration with the local councils, we hope to do it again next year,” she added.

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